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Background: Probiotics are survival microorganisms that, when administered in sufficient amounts, confer health benefits to the host and can be used in an antioxidative role. Objectives: The antioxidative effect of whole cells and intracellular cell-free extracts of the lactic acid bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus (PTCC 1643) as a probiotic at three different time intervals was investigated. Materials and Methods: Antioxidant biomarkers, such as total antioxidant power (TAP), measured with the FRAP (ferric-reducing ability of plasma) method, were evaluated at 24, 48, and 72 hours. Results:The results showed that extracts and bacteria of L. acidophilus were able to significantly increase TAP after 24 and 72 hours. Conclusions:The results showed that the effect of L. acidophilus is time-dependent.

Background: Background Sulbactam irreversibly inhibits the hydrolytic activity of beta-lactamases. This compound is commercially available in combination with either ampicillin or cefoperazone. In each instance, the activity of the partner antibiotic against beta-lactamase producing bacteria is restored. In this context the present study was aimed to find out the antimicrobial susceptibility pattern of GNB against cefaperazone-sulbactam and to correlate its activity against commonly used antimicrobials for treatment of GNB.Methods: All Gram negative bacilli isolated from different clinical samples during a period of three months were tested against cefaperazone-sulbactam, meropenem, ceftazidime, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, chloromphenicol, cotrimoxazole, ampicillin, amikacin, gentamycin, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, ofloxacin, norfloxacin, nitrofuratoin, aztreonam, carbenicillin, piperacillin and tobramycin using standard Kirby-Bauer disc diffusion antimicrobial susceptibility testing method. The susceptibility was recorded as susceptible, intermediate susceptible and resistant by measuring the zone of inhibition they showed. The data were recorded in Microsoft excel sheet and analyzed in terms of percentage.Results: A total of 406 Gram negative bacilli were isolated from different clinical samples. Majority of samples were from females (59.4%). The mean age of patient's was 34.85. Out of 15 different species of GNB, Escherichia coli was the frequent isolate (56.4%), followed by Acinetobacter anitratus (17.5%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (9.1%) and Pseudomonas aeroginosa (5.9%). Almost all were isolated from urine (66.7%), pus (19.2%) and blood (7.9%). Ten percent of isolates were resistant to meropenem, which was the least resistant drug, followed by cefaperazone-sulbactam (14.7%) followed by amikacin (26.25%), chloromphenicol (38.46%). Isolates showed high degree of resistance against cephalosporins ranging from 73% to 96%. Conclusion:Gram negative bacilli showed high level of susceptibility towards cefaperazone-sulbactam combination. It can be considered as a cheap alternative in treatment of severe infections caused by gram negative bacilli in our setting which would reduce the cost of other expensive antimicrobials agents.

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Background: Brucellosis is a zoonosis with worldwide distribution, especially in developing countries including Iran. Conventional methods for diagnosis of brucellosis include serologic tests and blood culture and for rapid detection of Brucella, PCR is available. The aim of this study was to compare serologic test, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and BACTEC blood culture methods for detection of Brucella species in clinical specimens.Methods & Materials: In a 15 months period, Between 2013 to 2014, 149 patients with clinical suspected brucellosis were enrolled in this comparative-descriptive study. Clinical specimens were obtained for culture and serologic tests including wright, coombs' wright and 2-Mercaptoethanol (2ME). Then Brucella DNA was extracted from blood specimens and PCR was performed using specific primers set. A questionnaire including demographic, clinical and paraclinical characteristics was completed for each subject.Results: The most common symptoms were fever, malaise, myalgia and sweating. Osteoarticular complications were observed in 106 (71.1%) patients, of which, the most common type was sacroiliitis in 67 patients (45%). Serologic tests including wright, coombs' wright, and 2ME were positive in 88.6%, 87.5% and 88.5%, respectively. Clinical specimen cultures were positive in 38.3%(n=57), that in 91.2% was positive, too. PCR were positive in 83 of 132 patients that 50 of these cases had positive culture that 100% of Brucella isolates were B.melitensis. There are significant correlation between PCR and culture. The sensitivity of PCR method was 96%, with specificity of 77%; the positive and negative serology predictive values were 100% and 78%, respectively.Conclusion: Serologic tests are useful for the diagnosis of brucellosis in most cases. In patients with low titers of antibodies, blood and other clinical specimens' culture are helpful for definitive diagnosis. Those with negative culture and serology can be confirmed by PCR method. The PCR method is a valuable test for rapid diagnosis of brucellosis in clinical specimens.